Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe coming to SouthCoast

Catholic Citizenship in cooperation with the Pro-Life Apostolate will sponsor a prayer-tour of the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe from April 3-14 throughout the Diocese of Fall River.

Catholic Citizenship in cooperation with the Pro-Life Apostolate will sponsor a prayer-tour of the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe from April 3-14 throughout the Diocese of Fall River.

The image is a 4-feet-by-6-feet digital replica of Mary, the mother of Jesus, which appeared on the cloak of Juan Diego in Mexico on Dec. 12, 1531. Nearly 500 years later, the image is still on display for all to see in the basilica near Mexico City.

Catholics believe that the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared as the pregnant Mother of God to offer faith, hope and consolation to the oppressed indigenous people; and through her intercession, there was an end to the offering of human sacrifices and the conversion of nine million Aztecs to Christianity in the next nine years.

According to Bea Martins, Catholic Citizenship associate field director, they are bringing the image to the diocese because of the pressing moral issues in this country, especially abortion. She cited that 50 million unborn children have been killed over the last 35 years since the Supreme Court opinion on Roe vs. Wade.

"We need the powerful intercession and intervention of Our Blessed Mother to bring about the conversion of hearts to understand the need to protect the unborn, our most innocent citizens," Mrs. Martins said.

In addition, she said that during this election year when the citizens must decide who will be the next leaders, Catholic Citizenship is seeking the divine assistance through Mary's intercession in helping to form the consciences of the citizens.

Faithful citizenship also is the focus of a statement issued by the United States Conference of Bishops.

"The Church calls for a different kind of political engagement: one shaped by the moral convictions of well-formed consciences and focused on the dignity of every human being, the pursuit of the common good, and the protection of the weak and the vulnerable," the bishops said.

For more information, call Bea Martins at (508) 414-2599 or Jane Wilcox at (508) 269-7097.